Sheikh Mohammed announces new government structure with merged ministries

The UAE will be merging 50 per cent of federal agencies with each other or within ministries as part of a major government restructuring, it revealed on Sunday.

The changes were announced by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai on Twitter.

الإخوة والأخوات بعد التشاور مع أخي محمد بن زايد رعاه الله الذي بارك الهيكل الجديد للحكومة ووجه بتسخير كافة الموارد للحفاظ على مكتسباتنا .. وتسريع مسيرة التنمية في بلادنا.. وبعد اعتماد أخي رئيس الدولة حفظه الله نعلن اليوم عن الهيكل الجديد لحكومة الإمارات .. pic.twitter.com/BbgMaL2Pbp

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

“Our goal of structural changes today is a government that is faster in decision-making and is more up to date with changes and better in seizing opportunities and in dealing with the new stage in our history. A flexible and fast government whose goal is to consolidate the achievements and gains of the country,” he stated.

هدفنا من التغييرات الهيكلية اليوم هو حكومة أسرع في اتخاذ القرار .. وأكثر مواكبة للمتغيرات .. وأفضل في اقتناص الفرص وفي التعامل مع المرحلة الجديدة في تاريخنا .. حكومة مرنة وسريعة هدفها تعزيز منجزات ومكتسبات الوطن..

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

“The new government has one year ahead of it to achieve the new priorities and the continuous changes will remain the motto of the next stage, reaching the best government model… and achieving the aspirations of the people of the Emirates,” he added.

الحكومة الجديدة أمامها عام واحد لتحقيق الأولويات الجديدة .. والتغييرات المستمرة ستبقى شعار المرحلة القادمة وصولاً لأفضل نموذج حكومي يواكب العصر الجديد .. ويحقق تطلعات شعب الإمارات خلال المرحلة القادمة .. pic.twitter.com/IcCS55bJ0c

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

Among the changes announced include –

* Cancelling 50 per cent of government service centres and converting them to digital platforms within two years

* Merging about 50 per cent of federal agencies with each other or within ministries, creating new government ministerial positions and creating executive heads in specialised sectors” focusing on the future

* The establishment of a new Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, tasked with developing the industrial sector in the country. The Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology (ESMA) will be merged with it and it will be led by Dr Sultan Al Jaber

* The Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Infrastructure will be merged to become become Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, led by Suhail Al Mazrouei. It will also oversee the Zayed Housing Programme and the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport.

* The Ministry of Economy will have three senior ministers – Abdullah bin Touq will serve as Minister of Economy, Ahmed Belhoul as the Minister of State for Business and Small and Medium Enterprises, and Thani al Zeyoudi as Minister of State for Foreign Trade

* The merger of the National Media Council and the Federal Youth Foundation with the Ministry of Culture, which will now be known as the Ministry of Culture and Youth. It will have two ministers: Shamma Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth. State news agency WAM will be under the ministry

دمج المجلس الوطني للإعلام والمؤسسة الاتحادية للشباب مع وزارة الثقافة لتكون وزارة الثقافة والشباب.. وتضم وزيرين .. شما المزروعي وزيرة دولة للشباب ونورة الكعبي وزيرة للثقافة والشباب.. ونقل وكالة أنباء الإمارات لشئون الرئاسة.. pic.twitter.com/FV1Yv8lKZx

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

* The Federal Authority for Electricity and Water (FEWA), Emirates Post and Emirates Institution of Transportation and Emirates Real Estate Corporation have been merged under the Emirates Investment Authority

* The General Pension and Social Security Authority will be merged with the Ministry of Community Development, which will provide services for retirees. The National Social Security Fund will also be established to manage security funds under the supervision of Obaid Al Tayer and under the umbrella of the Emirates Investment Authority

* The National Qualifications Authority will be merged with the Ministry of Education while the Insurance Authority will be merged with the Securities and Commodities Authority under the chairmanship of the Minister of Economy. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been named President of the Emirates Development Bank to carry on with his developmental role.

* Ohoud Al Roumi, who was Minister of State for Happiness and Wellbeing, has been appointed Minister of State for Governmental Development and Future. The tasks of ensuring quality of life and happiness have been moved to the Ministry of Community Development

* A new post has been created for the Minister of State for Digital Economy, Artificial Intelligence and Remote Work Applications, which will be held by Omar Al-Olama. “The future work environment in medicine, education and trade will change dramatically and we seek to be at the forefront of these changes and to be the best model globally,” said Sheikh Mohammed

* Hamad Al-Mansoori has been appointed as head of the digital government in the UAE, with the objective of creating one digital window for the government and a comprehensive and complete digital transformation. “Recent changes have proven that digital government is an indispensable strategic choice to ensure economic security for business continuity under any circumstances,” Sheikh Mohammed said

تعيين الأخ أحمد جمعة الزعابي وزير شئون المجلس الأعلى للاتحاد .. وتعيين معالي الشيخ نهيان بن مبارك وزيراً للتسامح والتعايش .. وإلحاق وزيرة الدولة للأمن الغذائي والمائي الأخت مريم المهيري بشئون الرئاسة.. pic.twitter.com/QwVGn7GeZZ

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

* Abdullah Al-Naif Al-Naimi, who was Minister of Infrastructure Development, has been appointed as Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Sarah Al-Amiri has been appointed as president of the Emirates Space Agency

* Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan will remain the Minister of Tolerance and Ahmed Jumaa Al-Zaabi has been appointed Minister of Supreme Council Affairs

* Minister of Food Security Mariam Almheiri will now be part of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs. “The file of food security will remain a priority through two ministers – the Minister of State for Food and Water Security will follow up on our national food stockpile and invest in food technology and international relations in this field, and the Minister of Environment will support farmers and developing our fish and animal wealth,” Sheikh Mohammed said

* A media office has been established for the Emirates government, affiliated to the Council of Ministers, and chaired by Saeed Al-Attar. It includes the Public Diplomacy Office, the Government Communication Office and the Media Identity Office and will supervise internal and external media communication for the UAE government

إنشاء المكتب الإعلامي لحكومة الإمارات، يتبع لمجلس الوزراء، ويرأسه الأخ سعيد العطر. وضم مكتب الدبلوماسية العامة ومكتب الاتصال الحكومي ومكتب الهوية الإعلامية له، ويشرف على التواصل الإعلامي الداخلي والخارجي لحكومة دولة الإمارات .. pic.twitter.com/PHnrViNmlU

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

* Mohammed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti has been appointed as the head of cyber security for the UAE government. “The security of our digital government is an essential part of our comprehensive national security and the protection of our digital national borders is an integral part of protecting our nation,” said Sheikh Mohammed

* Hoda Al Hashemi has been appointed as the head of government strategy and innovation in the UAE government while Mohammed Bin Taleya will serve as head of government services to lead the federal service system

تعيين الأخت هدى الهاشمي رئيساً للاستراتيجية والابتكار الحكومي في حكومة الإمارات.. هدى جزء من فريقي منذ أكثر من 10 سنوات وثقتي بها عالية .. وتعيين الأخ محمد بن طليعة رئيساَ للخدمات الحكومية لقيادة المنظومة الخدماتية الاتحادية لتكون ضمن الأفضل عالميا.. pic.twitter.com/jTePUAqPbn

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020

* Maryam Al Hammadi has been appointed secretary-general of the Council of Ministers, Ahmed Majed Al-Badawi as assistant secretary-general and Mohammed Sultan Al-Obaidli as head of Legal Affairs in the Emirates government